India

India at CWC 2027

India sit in Group A alongside Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, co-hosts Zimbabwe and one qualifier still to be confirmed. It is about as demanding a draw as the format allows, and the schedule wastes no time: India open the entire group stage against Australia, a rematch of the 2023 final.

Date	Opponent	Venue	Start (local)
Thu 7 Oct	Australia	Newlands, Cape Town	10:00
Sun 10 Oct	Pakistan	Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg	10:00
Thu 14 Oct	Afghanistan	SuperSport Park, Centurion	10:00
Sun 17 Oct	Group A qualifier (TBC)	Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein	10:00
Sun 24 Oct	Zimbabwe	Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium, Victoria Falls	10:00

The Sunday meeting with Pakistan at the Wanderers is the fixture most likely to dominate ticket demand, while the closing game in Victoria Falls gives travelling supporters a reason to combine cricket with one of the great natural sights of the region. All five group games are day matches.

World Cup history

India have lifted the trophy twice. The 1983 win at Lord’s, against a West Indies side that had won the first two tournaments, is widely credited with transforming the game’s popularity in the country. The second title came on home soil in 2011, with victory over Sri Lanka in Mumbai. India have also reached two further finals: in 2003, when they lost to Australia at the Wanderers, and in 2023, when Australia beat them again in Ahmedabad. Johannesburg therefore carries some unfinished business.

Conditions in southern Africa

Southern African pitches have traditionally offered more pace and bounce than India’s home surfaces, especially on the Highveld, where Johannesburg, Centurion and Bloemfontein all sit at altitude and the ball can travel further through thinner air. Morning starts may also give seamers early movement. Coastal grounds such as Newlands can be different again, with wind a factor. India’s recent depth in fast bowling suggests they are better equipped for these conditions than in past eras, but adapting batting technique to extra bounce is likely to be a recurring theme.

Travelling fans

There is a large Indian community in South Africa, so expect strong support at every venue. Most fans from India connect through Gulf hubs such as Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi, or via African hubs like Addis Ababa and Nairobi; check whether any direct services are operating closer to the time. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia all use UTC+2, which is three and a half hours behind Indian Standard Time, so a 10:00 start is 13:30 in India.

Entry rules differ for each host country and can change, so check the official government immigration websites well before booking. Our visa guide collects the starting points, and the tickets guide explains how and when to buy.